This past May, we featured an emotional piece, In Memory of Elle, on the front page. One of our members from the US armed forces recently discovered this submission and felt a need to share his feelings with the rest of the Newgrounds community. Here is what he has to say:
A lot of people think that catchy graphics make a great animation. But there is something that matters way beyond graphics when creating a meaningful animation, and that is heart. This animator placed her entire heart into this animation and it shows. Though the graphics are simplistic, in the end that does not matter. Just the angel girl dancing, which represents the lost friend, is more than enough. It shows what kind of person she was before she passed. The dancing shows the kind of dancing an innocent child would do with some friends, just kidding around.
The animator points out the quirky things that were done by this child, such as going to anime shows as a "mighty warrior" with a fork. Only someone who cared about a friend more than anything else would have ever thought to make an animation like this. The song as well fits this animation and the lost friend very well, especially because of the phrase used in the animation, "She was just looking for something this world didn't have."
Being a trained soldier, I have seen many horrible acts. I have seen friends lost sitting right beside me. I have killed those that I wish I did not have to so many times. None of this ever affected me as much as this animation did. But because of this animation I have finally shed a tear for a life lost. It was as if I could feel the emotions from the artist's heart pouring out of this animation. You could feel her love emanating out of it and surrounding it.
It is sad when a life is lost but more so when it is a child who was never given a chance to fully experience the world. Animations like this particular one prove there is hope for our future and our children. It shows that in this world there are children that care so much about someone they would do something like this for the whole world to know.
This is why I ask of something simple from all of you. Watch this animation to show your respects to this child and show your support to the animator. Also please pass on a link to everyone you know so they as well can pay their respects. It does not matter if you do not know this person because you do not have to know them to pay them your respects. I personally have no physical attachment to this child other than I watched an animation that a friend of hers made and it touched me to write this. You do not have to believe in god, or anything, but deep down in your heart you will feel it. You will feel that kindheartedness emanating from this animation. You will feel the dedication and soul poured into this, and feel the tears of the animator as this animation was created. Most of all, you will be showing that you care, even if the only person in life that knows you watched it was yourself, if Elle is out there somewhere, I am sure she is thanking you.
R.I.P
Elisabeth (Elle) C. Stanford
March 15, 1990 to April 19, 2006